[Leica] Leica has bought Sinar -but who foots the bill??

[hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson)]

Hi Doug, interesting indeed. As I understand it Leica made some profit but 
it didn't come from the film camera area?
Someone paid for that Hermes portion of the shares, too. In all quite some 
amounts flowing in with the R&D for four new digital
cameras too. It does seem as though some folks have a reasonable expectation 
of the company surviving and yielding returns.
Philosophically ties with people in the optical and imaging areas seem more 
satisfying/promising than with unrelated areas. Still
its all becoming as convoluted as the Zeiss story to follow!
Cheers
Hoppy

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org 
[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Douglas Sharp
Sent: Tuesday, 26 September 2006 10:00
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: [Leica] Leica has bought Sinar -but who foots the bill??

Hi Hoppy.
at present, Leica Camera AG (running at a loss) has only a couple of 
hundred employees , Jenoptik (25 million euro profit after taxes) has 
getting on for 3000 in  production and admin , I reckon Sinar is about 
the same size as Leica Camera AG (I have no figures for Sinar), possibly 
smaller. As far as I know,the other 49% of Sinar is still held by the 
family that founded the company.
So where did the money come from??? Hermes backed out,the German economy 
is pretty stagnant and conservative and lacks willingness to risk 
capital, but somebody obviously sees a future in there somewhere, 
possibly their backers in Austria (a small but very up and coming 
economy with some successful industrials like Swarovsky, who are big in 
binoculars equal to Leica quality), possibly money from growing 
economies (Russian or Chinese nouveau riche investors),  or maybe 
someone is trying to write off big money for tax purposes.
I can't really see it being "old" money from any European source
Douglas


G Hopkinson wrote:

>Thanks Douglas, it's all quite interesting. I didn't know about the company 
>relative sizes. I was speculating regarding a
connection
>with Jenoptik implementing the sensor for the M8.
>Doesn't seem very likely that Leica would be ambitious enough to move into 
>medium format digital.
>
>Cheers
>Hoppy
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org 
>[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
>Douglas Sharp
>Sent: Tuesday, 26 September 2006 03:39
>To: Leica Users Group
>Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica has bought Sinar
>
>Pushed the button too soon,
>It should be made clear that Leica bought ALL the Sinar shares owned by 
>Jenoptik (who had a 51% share in Sinar) and now has a controlling share, 
>Jenoptik is one of the foremost European players in the sensor, 
>mechatronics and laser segment - and one of the greatest success stories 
>of an East German company since the wall came down.
>
>What I also wanted to add was the small snippet from the Jenoptik (was 
>Carl Zeiss Jena) pages.
>Jenoptik is the owner of "Robot" - yes, they still exist - and is 
>currently involved in converting their products (traffic surveillance 
>cameras) to digital technology.
>
>Looks like the German/Swiss camera industry is undergoing some sort of 
>renaissance - and trying to make a stand in a couple of the lucrative 
>markets dominated by Carl Zeiss Oberkochen and their partners - while at 
>the same time possibly looking towards European autonomy when it comes 
>to sensor technologies.
>
>Who exactly is behind pumping the money into Leica (much smaller than 
>Jenoptik) to put them up front as a figurehead brand remains a mystery - 
>Leica alone certainly didn't have the cash.
>Douglas
>
>
>Douglas Sharp wrote:
>  
>
>>Here's the actual press release from 25.09.2006
>>
>>
>>Leica Camera AG, Solms, takes over 51% of the shares of Sinar AG, 
>>Feuerthalen/Switzerland, from JENOPTIK Laser, Optik, SystemeGmbH, Jena 
>>("JENOPTIK"). JENOPTIK and Leica Camera AG have signed corresponding 
>>acquisition and transfer contracts on September 25, 2006. 
>>Confidentiality was agreed concerning the transfer price.
>>
>>The existing technical cooperation between JENOPTIK and Sinar AG 
>>concerning digital camera backs will be continued.
>>
>>Sinar AG serves professional photographers with leading solutions in 
>>medium and large format cameras, both with analogue and digital 
>>technology. Leica Camera AG will continue and develop the Sinar 
>>business with the Sinar brand and company structure, based on the 
>>shared values of excellence and innovation.
>>
>>Both companies will benefit from synergies in technical collaboration 
>>as well as marketing and sales. Leica Camera AG is confident that the 
>>acquisition will bring positive developments for customers, employees 
>>as well as shareholders of both companies. This is a first step on the 
>>strategic path towards growing the business of Leica Camera AG.
>>
>>
>>G Hopkinson wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>Does this point to control of Jenoptik for the M8 sensor?
>>>Great to see the company expanding, that's for sure.
>>>Cheers
>>>Hoppy
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org 
>>>[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On 
>>>Behalf Of
>>>Don Dory
>>>Sent: Monday, 25 September 2006 21:56
>>>To: Leica Users Group
>>>Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica has bought Sinar
>>>
>>>It means for sure that Leica has more digital offerings in the pipeline.
>>>Possibly does not want to be hostage to Panasonic forever.
>>>
>>>Don
>>>don.dory@gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>On 9/25/06, Didier Ludwig <rangefinder@screengang.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>      
>>>
>>>>The Leica bei Meister Newsletter I just received states that Leica
>>>>AG, Solms, has buyed 51% of the Sinar shares previoisly owned by 
>>>>Jenoptik.
>>>>
>>>>Swiss company Sinar http://www.sinar.ch/ is famous for it's
>>>>professional solutions for the medium and large format photography.
>>>>It's former owner Jenoptik http://www.jenoptik.com is the company
>>>>that implements the kodak sensor and software in the M8.
>>>>
>>>>Would could this mean? Leica entering the digital medium/large format
>>>>area? All I can say is that's it's positive sign that Leica is able
>>>>to buy another company and not the other way round.
>>>>
>>>>Didier